By Megan G. Razzetti
Deano’s Deli brings a unique taste of East Coast deli-style sandwiches to the West Coast, all through the mobility of a food truck.
Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Deano’s uses fresh deli meats and cheeses and freshly-made authentic Italian hoagie rolls in each of their sandwich creations.
The menu changes regularly, but the flavors still hold with each sandwich.
The ‘Oy Vey’ features a fantastic approach to the traditional pastrami sandwich. This incorporates hot pastrami that is so well cooked that its juices lock into each and every piece. The meat is then combined with a generous portion of pickled cole slaw reminiscent of curtido, a lightly fermented cabbage relish sometimes served with Salvadoran dishes, such as pupusas. The pickling of the slaw is subtle but it complements the other flavors of the meat, melted swiss cheese and dijon mustard so well that it is hard to stop eating.
The French dip is also another sandwich that is stacked with a roast beef that has been cooked with true care. The meat maintains its moisture even as it cools down during consumption. The meat is topped with caramelized onions and served on warm bread with a horseradish mayonnaise baked onto it. The baking of the bread with the mayonnaise is a nice touch because it adds to the flavor of the sandwich without the goopy mess mayonnaise tends to make. The sandwich is served with a light beef au jus sauce on the side that is full of the same seasonings used to create the flavor of the roast beef.
For those who are not into hot sandwiches, the Heirloom Turkey is a great alternative. Served with provolone cheese, arugula, avocado, tomato and crispy onions, this is a tasty bite suitable for a light afternoon lunch. The meat, once again proved not to be dry and was also savory as it blended with crispness of the onions and arugula. The avocado created a creamy texture that tied the elements of the sandwich together. Each bite is full of different flavor combinations, making the sandwich unlike any other turkey sandwich.
The only downside of Deano’s is that it is just a food truck that follows a special schedule that food lovers can find on their Twitter, @Deanosdeli. Also, the menu changes from time to time but that also gives others an opportunity to try something new each time they visit. Sandwiches range from $8 to $11 and sides such as tator tots can also be purchased alongside.